Bab 216: Chapter 216: The Impending Domination
"Wha--"
"How did the ball slip away from his hand?"
"I didn't see it clearly. It just happened way too fast!"
The freshmen at Seirin burst out in exclamations, their eyes fixed on the unexpected turn of events.
Meanwhile, Hyuga and Kiyoshi wore grave expressions, their faces reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
"...It happened really fast, but Fukuda Sogo's captain managed to graze the ball out of Kise's hand during the transition," Hyuga explained, leaving everyone's expression brimming with surprise.
In the high-stakes clash between Fukuda Sogo's Captain and the Ace from Kaijo High, they engaged in a high-intensity play with lightning-fast movements. Hyuga keenly observed, realizing that, in the blink of an eye, an action unfolded that went unnoticed by most.
As Kise took a step back, Tsuna flicked his hand forward, skillfully grazing the ball in perfect harmony with Kise's movement.
"...I get that he managed to graze the ball like that, which was impressive, but how did he execute it with such precision?"
Kiyoshi shook his head, letting out a deep exhale. "He read Kise's movements like a book..."
"Pardon?"
"Kazama was familiar with all the Generation of Miracles' movements and could predict which one Kise was most likely to copy. He found a way to counter his defense and acted accordingly..." Kuroko chimed in, providing a detailed explanation and dispelling their confusion.
His gaze remained fixed on Kise's figure on the court, wearing an expression tinged with concern.
While Tsuna may have been the one to ignite the idea of utilizing misdirection and had been Kuroko's benefactor in the past, Kuroko's bond with Kise, forged over a longer period of friendship, made his worry for Kise undeniable.
Although Tsuna being Kuroko's benefactor was nothing but his own misunderstanding, his bond with Kise was real.
Aida silently echoed Kuroko's sentiment as she observed Tsuna's figure in the court.
"...That's not the sole factor enabling him to predict which movement Kise would use."
Simply predicting Kise's actions based on behavior wasn't a skill anyone possessed easily.
It was undeniable.
Yet, the way Tsuna applied pressure, leaving Kise with no option but to resort to a particular movement to counter it, and executing a strike exactly when Kise followed the expected pattern, was even more formidable and terrifying.
"...Such a terrifying person."
She muttered, her eyes shifted toward Kaijo High's frustrated expression.
Meanwhile, on the court, Kasamatsu clenched his teeth, witnessing the morale of his team gradually diminishing as he dribbled the ball forward.
"Bastard!"
He cursed in frustration, glancing at Tsuna, who shadowed Kise closely, before redirecting his focus to his own situation, where Nijimura applied relentless pressure on him.
Sweat trickled down Kasamatsu's face as he felt the weight of Nijimura's pressure.
"He didn't give me as much pressure compared to that nasty bastard," Kasamatsu acknowledged, realizing this as Nijimura executed refined movements, exuding a formidable pressure akin to that of a knight shadowing his every move.
Although Nijimura's pressure was noteworthy, it paled in comparison to Fukuda Sogo's Captain!
"Then, I should be able to break through!"
Kasamatsu declared with determination, inhaling deeply to steel himself for the challenge ahead.
Without hesitation, he swiftly changed his pace, skillfully dribbling the ball behind his back to the left.
Simultaneously shifting his body weight forward, he accelerated, once again showcasing an impressive display of ball control, maneuvering it between his legs with incredible speed.
However, Nijimura remained as calm as ever, absorbing every move and adjustment Kasamatsu made, reacting with calculated precision to each shift on the court.
"...Compared to Tsuna's pace, this is nothing."
Nijimura pondered, his eyes flashing with a cunning light as he subtly shifted his body and adjusted his weight, preparing for what lay ahead.
Sensing the opportune moment, Kasamatsu's eyes sparkled with a fierce determination.
In a swift motion, he spun his body right in front of Nijimura, executing a move similar to the one that had failed to break through Tsuna's defense a while ago.
The dribble aimed directly between his legs, intricately connected to Nijimura's legs as well.
As the ball glided through his legs, Kasamatsu's face lit up with satisfaction, his agile form bursting forward to seize the ball that had slipped through Nijimura's legs.
Yet, mirroring Tsuna's tactics, Nijimura swiftly stepped back, leaving Kasamatsu wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Did he manage to react!?"
Kasamatsu exclaimed, though he didn't halt his movement, reassured that Nijimura wouldn't replicate Tsuna's feat.
"No, he won't be able to!"
"As expected, I was a bit slow to step back..."
Nijimura softly acknowledged, realizing that his reaction speed fell short of Tsuna's, making the ball retrieval a more challenging task.
However, a smirk played on his lips, sending a chill down Kasamatsu's spine as he detected a trace of Tsuna's expression in that smirk.
"I admit it, Kasamatsu. You're a great player, but who said I need to snatch the ball from you?"
With those words, Nijimura subtly adjusted his body, even at a slight distance from the ball. He then swung his hand behind and forcefully sent the ball flying right in front of Kasamatsu's eyes, who was just one step away from grabbing it.
Kasamatsu's eyes widened in frustration as he silently muttered, "...I'll do it faster next time!"
Nijimura keenly observed Kasamatsu's expression, detecting a silent determination in those pupils.
He shook his head slightly in pity and mumbled, "Well, good luck trying, because that move..."
The ball sailed toward Haizaki smoothly as Nijimura added, "...won't be yours anymore."
Feeling Nijimura's gaze on him as he secured the ball, Haizaki let out a slight chuckle, causing a hiss of pain to escape his lips.
His entire body still ached from Nijimura's beating, and he muttered, "...Fucking bastard beat me to a pulp, and now he dares to ask for a favor."
Despite the pain, a smirk played on Haizaki's face as he began to dribble the ball in his hand, his eyes scanning the Kaijo High players currently marking him.
"Whatever," Haizaki clicked his tongue, briefly glancing at Tsuna's figure before shifting his gaze back to Nijimura, locking eyes with him.
"Just know that I'm not doing this because you asked me to."
Haizaki altered his dribbling pace, leaving the defender who marked him flustered. He declared, "I'm doing this simply because it's our Captain's plan!"
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